Dog In The Yard

In this powerful episode of Dog In The Yard, we sit down with Kevin “Renny” Smith, a Brooklyn native who spent 27 years behind bars for a murder he didn’t commit. Wrongfully convicted in 1987, Renny found himself serving a life sentence—and it was in the darkest moments of his incarceration that he made a vow to change the direction of his life.

Renny opens up about his transformation from a young man caught in the system to a powerful advocate for the wrongfully convicted. As Executive Director of Families and Friends of the Wrongfully Convicted (FFWC), he has helped exonerate 26 individuals and continues to fight for justice and accountability. He also speaks on his community activism, addressing police brutality, gun violence, and health disparities.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in resilience, justice reform, and the power of purpose after prison.

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org

Derrick Hamilton was sentenced to 25 years to life for a crime he didn’t commit, spending 21 years behind bars before finally proving his innocence. While incarcerated, he became a self-taught legal expert, dedicating himself to learning the law and using his knowledge to fight not only for his own freedom but also for others who had been wrongfully convicted. His relentless pursuit of justice led to his exoneration in 2015, proving the system had failed him and so many others.

Since his release, Derrick has devoted his life to criminal justice reform. As the Co-founder of Family and Friends of the Wrongfully Convicted Inc. and Deputy Director of the Perlmutter Center for Legal Justice at Cardozo School of Law, he works tirelessly to support those who have been unjustly imprisoned. He has been instrumental in bringing attention to wrongful convictions, particularly exposing the misconduct of NYPD Detective Louis Scarcella, whose corrupt practices led to the wrongful imprisonment of numerous individuals. Thanks to Derrick’s efforts, 16 people have been exonerated to date.

Beyond advocacy, Derrick has played a crucial role in pushing for policy changes to prevent future wrongful convictions. He has helped reshape practices related to misidentification, false confessions, and discovery procedures in criminal cases. His work has not only changed lives but has also helped level the playing field for those accused of crimes, ensuring they receive a fair and just legal process.

In this episode, Derrick shares his powerful journey—from surviving decades behind bars to becoming a champion for justice. His story is one of resilience, redemption, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that no one else suffers the same fate. Tune in to hear how he turned his wrongful conviction into a mission to fight for truth, justice, and systemic change.

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org

From the streets of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, to the music industry, Bang Em Up has lived through it all. Facing the harsh realities of the streets, he was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for 4 attempted murders. But prison didn’t define him—it became the place where he plotted his comeback.

Now, 9 years free, Bang Em Up has reinvented himself as a music executive and entrepreneur, building a powerhouse brand in the industry. As the founder of Beu.Ent, he’s not just making music—he’s making moves. With ownership in "Demons" by Drake, Fivio Foreign & Sosa Geek, and running B.E.U Studios & Mercy Music, he’s creating opportunities for up-and-coming artists to succeed in the industry. 

In this episode, Bang Em Up opens up about his past, the lessons he learned behind bars, and how he turned his pain into power. From facing the system to dominating the music business, this is a story of resilience, redemption, and hustle.

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org

Edwin Raymond is not just a former NYPD lieutenant—he’s a whistleblower, civil rights activist, and author who put everything on the line to expose the injustices within the system. Born and raised in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, to Haitian immigrant parents, Edwin joined the NYPD in 2008 with a mission: to bring real change from within. But what he encountered was a system built on racial profiling, arrest quotas, and corruption—so he decided to fight back.

Featured in the Emmy Award-winning documentary Crime + Punishment (2018), Edwin became one of the boldest voices challenging the NYPD’s discriminatory practices. His efforts to hold the system accountable led to both retaliation and recognition, earning him the NAACP Courage and Leadership Award.

In 2023, he took his fight even further with his memoir, An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America, revealing the untold truths of law enforcement and his personal struggles in advocating for reform. Get your copy here: 📖 Buy the book on Amazon.

An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America,
https://www.amazon.com/Inconve.../0593653165 

Today, Edwin continues to push for justice, transparency, and equity in policing while using his platform to inspire change.

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org

In this episode of Dog In The Yard, we sit down with Leon “LB” Brown, a Yonkers native with Jamaican roots who transformed his life after years behind bars.

At 18 years old, LB was convicted in Virginia and sentenced to 10 years and 9 months. After his release in 2011, he was reincarcerated in 2012 on a firearm charge, serving additional time before maxing out in 2020.

Determined to never go back, LB built HighEaTz, a cannabis-infused culinary brand, and launched a holistic fitness and herbal medicine business. Now, he’s focused on helping others heal, grow, and break the cycle.

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org

In this episode of Dog in the Yard, we sit down with Musa Major, a Newark native whose story is a testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of music.

Growing up in a single-parent household, Musa faced countless challenges, but music always served as his escape. His passion for lyricism was undeniable, yet life took a drastic turn during his college years, when personal struggles led to his arrest and conviction for attempted homicide.

While incarcerated, Musa found a deeper purpose—transforming pain into poetry and adversity into art. Inspired by the word "Moxie," meaning determination and perseverance, he poured his experiences into his music. His debut album even features his own mugshot, symbolizing the struggles he overcame and the man he has become.

Now free, Musa is on a mission—not just to make music, but to inspire, uplift, and redefine what it means to rise from the ashes. His story is one of hardship, self-discovery, and triumph, proving that your past does not determine your future.

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org

In this episode of Dog in the Yard, we sit down with Swerve, a man whose life journey is a powerful testament to resilience, creativity, and transformation. Born in Lower Manhattan in 1989, Swerve was raised between South Yonkers and Avenue A in Manhattan, navigating a childhood marked by struggle, survival, and the influence of activism.

His mother, an HIV/AIDS advocate, battled her own hardships, while his father’s repeated incarcerations forced Swerve to find his own way. Inspired by his grandfather’s University of the Streets, a community-driven mission, Swerve was exposed to music, activism, and the arts from an early age. But despite the positive influences, his life took a turn, leading to five years in prison.

Since his release, Swerve has transformed his life. Now the Executive Director of University of the Streets, he’s dedicated to uplifting his community through music therapy, financial literacy programs, and mentorship. He’s also the CEO of Council of Wealth Records, a fashion designer, a published author, and the filmmaker behind the urban-acclaimed movie Money Over Love.

Through music, fashion, and film, Swerve is redefining what it means to rise above the past and create a future filled with purpose.

📢 Watch now and hear Swerve’s powerful journey firsthand.

🔗 Stay connected with Swerve: @swervey_de_lawrence
🎥 Watch the full episode now!

#DogInTheYard #Swerve #PrisonReform #RedemptionStory #SecondChances #LifeAfterPrison #CommunityBuilding #MusicAndActivism

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org

Sunny Gibbs, a Brooklyn native, grew up in Crown Heights before moving to Bed-Stuy after his release from DFY at 16. His first incarceration was at 11 years old for robbery, and by 13, he had turned to armed robberies after losing his mother.

As a founding member of the Hop Out Boyz, Sunny was convicted in 2004 of multiple armed robberies and sentenced to 9 years. After serving 8 years, he was re-arrested 90 days later on armed robbery and kidnapping charges, ultimately serving a total of 18 years behind bars.

Since his release 2.5 years ago, Sunny has dedicated himself to helping others rebuild their lives. He founded Boomerang NY, a nonprofit supporting wrongfully convicted and formerly incarcerated individuals, and transformed Hop Out Boyz into Honor Our Brothers, now active in five countries.

Sunny has spoken to youth at the Bronx Community Center, worked on criminal justice reform campaigns, and continues to uplift those seeking a second chance.

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org

In this episode of Dog In The Yard we sit down with Jose Perez, a poet, actor, and community leader whose powerful journey is a testament to resilience and transformation. Born and raised in Queens, Jose spent his childhood in foster care, group homes, and juvenile institutions before being incarcerated at just 16 years old, sentenced to 20 years to life for Murder 2 Robbery 1. After serving 20 years in New York State prisons, he was released on December 2, 2020, and has since dedicated his life to empowering others.

While incarcerated, Jose pursued education, earning degrees from Bard College, Nyack College, and a Master’s from the New York Theological Seminary. He also became a poet, actor, and professional service dog trainer, using his time to develop skills that would serve him far beyond the prison walls. Today, he is the Program Strategist for the Children’s Defense Fund-NY, advocating for young people in the child welfare and justice systems. 

Jose is also an accomplished spoken word artist and actor, having performed at The Bushwick Starr Theater, The Public Theater, and The Shed. He works as the Correctional Facility Coordinator for Compagnia de Colombari, bringing poetry and theater workshops into prisons, and co-founded "I Wish I Knew How", an arts initiative for formerly incarcerated artists. 

His latest project, https://www.amazon.com/Till-In...=sr_1_1?crid=6B2LO94EI9E7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nlc2LpKNsJBDKY2qwv_lwF9BS-XT-97HUP36iuIMO-ZBO2ntUcvmdkF5jBgC16SXVtjgs4nsxjn_S1kbPepAv41E7gmJrZt7nar40_53Uhx2eeCZzlirxgNZFZbw-yNe0X9rItV5x5JsmIiW_vtQcllRfFao2Gs0ZVvxiY1-CvLE2KMRMwCUVfslBLEc1eYfm34l1JVtorhbeUlqH828AaHhKA8N_V5q59BNUWyQp_qcQIXd0ftfA5H65qfrtDD-SOOl6SBYyPznSz3rMviBYTMLVYlh_UzpggzJ3HT9KXpARJ1YurnYcgRgP62SJBlxJGeLE_frI03BkvTHxdxManqhnNJ-oMMvX7lINLol53AylHT_ic1cUco1TO2CP90q-aGcv2w4xvIMTBIuMCgndL-oZe8ffVvJAtautKkiVR-i3YJpNmbW4cmvJJcSdVjs.YY8qPTjdV0lvtHBOo6TAZN4E-86rx9IFYO3ZORrAZZs&dib_tag=se&keywords=Till+Ink+Meets+Paper&qid=1738445532&sprefix=till+ink+meets+paper+%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1  is a deeply personal poetry collection that tells the story of how he and his mother, both incarcerated on Rikers Island, reconnected through love letters and verse.

 📢 Tune in to hear Jose’s incredible story of survival, redemption, and giving back to his community.

📖 Get his book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Till-In...=sr_1_1?crid=6B2LO94EI9E7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nlc2LpKNsJBDKY2qwv_lwF9BS-XT-97HUP36iuIMO-ZBO2ntUcvmdkF5jBgC16SXVtjgs4nsxjn_S1kbPepAv41E7gmJrZt7nar40_53Uhx2eeCZzlirxgNZFZbw-yNe0X9rItV5x5JsmIiW_vtQcllRfFao2Gs0ZVvxiY1-CvLE2KMRMwCUVfslBLEc1eYfm34l1JVtorhbeUlqH828AaHhKA8N_V5q59BNUWyQp_qcQIXd0ftfA5H65qfrtDD-SOOl6SBYyPznSz3rMviBYTMLVYlh_UzpggzJ3HT9KXpARJ1YurnYcgRgP62SJBlxJGeLE_frI03BkvTHxdxManqhnNJ-oMMvX7lINLol53AylHT_ic1cUco1TO2CP90q-aGcv2w4xvIMTBIuMCgndL-oZe8ffVvJAtautKkiVR-i3YJpNmbW4cmvJJcSdVjs.YY8qPTjdV0lvtHBOo6TAZN4E-86rx9IFYO3ZORrAZZs&dib_tag=se&keywords=Till+Ink+Meets+Paper&qid=1738445532&sprefix=till+ink+meets+paper+%2Caps%2C83&sr=8-1

🔗 Stay connected: IG https://www.instagram.com/j.a....

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org

In this powerful episode of Dog in the Yard, we sit down with Trevell Coleman, better known as G. Dep, the Harlem-born rapper who rose to fame with Bad Boy Records and his hit album Child of the Ghetto. Known for his raw lyricism and storytelling, G. Dep's music resonated with fans through tracks like "Special Delivery" and "Let's Get It."

Beyond his musical success, G. Dep’s story is one of redemption and transformation. In 2010, he made headlines after turning himself in for a cold case from 1993, leading to his conviction and 13.5 years in prison. Granted executive clemency in 2024, G. Dep is now focused on sharing his journey, reflecting on his life, and using his platform to inspire others.

Tune in to hear G. Dep open up about his early days in Harlem, his rise in hip-hop, his time with Bad Boy Records, and how he found purpose after incarceration. This episode is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of redemption.

Dog In The Yard: Real Stories From Real Comrades
🎥 Full Episodes: YouTube.com/@DogInTheYard
📱 Follow: @dogintheyardpodcast
📩 Booking & Inquiries: [email protected]
🌐 Join the movement: dogintheyard.org